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Dennis Quaid is taking a major step in his family life. The 72-year-old actor filed a petition to terminate his $13,750 monthly child support payments to ex-wife Kimberly Buffington now that their twins have reached high school graduation. The move follows the exact terms laid out in their 2018 divorce agreement and comes as Thomas and Zoe turn 18 this year.
Hollywood parents know these milestones hit hard. One day you’re juggling red-carpet schedules and school plays; the next, the kids are walking across the stage in caps and gowns. Quaid’s filing makes that transition official on paper.
The Court Filing Details
Court documents obtained by People and USA Today show Quaid filed the petition in late May 2026. He cited the 2018 settlement that ends basic child support “when a child completes 12th grade.” Zoe graduated May 23. Thomas graduates June 3. Both dates fall squarely within the agreement’s language.
Quaid also asked the court to prorate any additional income-based payment. Under the original deal, he owes extra if his annual earnings top $1,314,000. He wants that bonus calculated only up to each twin’s graduation date instead of the full 2026 tax year. It’s a precise, numbers-driven request that keeps everything clean and fair.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Monthly Child Support Amount | $13,750 |
| Annual Base Total | $165,000 |
| Twins’ Ages | 18 (born November 2007) |
| Graduation Dates | Zoe: May 23, 2026; Thomas: June 3, 2026 |
| Divorce Finalized | 2018 |
| Additional Income Threshold | $1,314,000 |
Background on the Quaid-Buffington Family
Quaid and Buffington married in July 2004. Their twins arrived in November 2007. The couple separated after several on-and-off filings but finalized everything amicably in 2018. Court records note joint legal and physical custody, with Buffington handling the majority of day-to-day parenting while Quaid’s acting schedule kept him on location.
Quaid already has one older son, Jack, from his marriage to Meg Ryan. He later married Laura Savoie in 2020. Through it all he has stayed low-key about his kids’ private lives — a rare quality in an industry that loves to broadcast every family update.
Why This Filing Matters Now
High-earning parents in California family court often face these exact moments. Once kids finish high school and hit legal adulthood, support obligations shift. Quaid’s team is simply enforcing the contract both parties signed eight years ago. The proration request shows they’re not looking to shortchange anyone — they just want the math to match reality.
Entertainment families navigate these transitions in the spotlight. Fans who grew up watching Quaid in everything from The Parent Trap to his recent turn in The Substance now see him handling the quieter, more personal side of success. Empty-nest chapters hit every household the same way, famous or not.
What Happens Next
The court will review the petition. Given that the terms match the original agreement word for word, approval looks straightforward. Once signed off, the monthly payments stop and any final bonus gets calculated only through graduation day. Buffington, a real estate broker, built her own career during and after the marriage, so the financial picture for the family remains stable.
Quaid has never been one for public statements on personal matters. He let the documents do the talking here, and that restraint feels consistent with how he’s handled fatherhood for nearly two decades.
The Bigger Picture in Celebrity Co-Parenting
Stories like this pop up every few months in Hollywood. Parents who once split time between soundstages and soccer practice now watch their kids launch into adulthood. The numbers are big, but the emotions run deeper — pride, relief, a touch of nostalgia. Quaid’s filing closes one financial chapter while opening the next phase of his relationship with his grown children.
Thomas and Zoe step into the world as independent young adults. Their father’s long career gave them a front-row seat to both the glamour and the grind of show business. Now they get to write their own scripts.
